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RE: Greetings - Looking for a little advice please.
Subject:RE: Greetings - Looking for a little advice please. From:Mac Wheeler <email -at- macwheeler -dot- com> To:Milan DavidoviÄ <milan -dot- lists -at- gmail -dot- com> Date:Tue, 22 May 2012 00:56:17 +0000
That is a very good question.
OK the main difference is in the fact that what I do now seldom exercises my previous skills. Sure, it may be interesting researching the latest killer iPhone app and writing a review, or putting together a press release for the launch of yet another online gambling site, but quite frankly, it becomes less than satisfying after a while.
The reason for this dissatisfaction is twofold. Firstly, I need to attach some value to the 24 years I spent in my original career. With hindsight, simply ditching it and walking away was illogical, what I should have done is find a way to use it to move sideways into something I would enjoy (which is exactly what I am considering now). Unfortunately, at the time, I had no idea I would enjoy a career as a writer, this was something I accidentally slipped in to. I can now see there might be a way to combine the two. The second reason is that I am working in a very broad niche, which has its benefits but is highly competitive, but overall I feel as if I could make more money (and let's face it we all work for money) if I leveraged the value of my previous work experience.
I am also beginning to miss the structured environment that working in an office provides. Currently I set my own hours, and work wherever my laptop is. Some people may be thinking that this sounds like heaven, and sometimes it is. Yet there are those times when I find myself spending 60 hours a week working, simply to catch up due to too much procrastination the previous week. I'm not really a good self-motivator!
However, the main reason for considering making a move in to technical writing is that I am thinking of heading back to the UK. My current work provides a good income for having a pretty nice life in SE Asia. It would not provide enough to live a good life in the UK.
Thanks in advance.
Mac.
-----Original Message-----
From: Milan DavidoviÄ [mailto:milan -dot- lists -at- gmail -dot- com]
Sent: 22 May 2012 07:37
To: Mac Wheeler
Cc: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Subject: Re: Greetings - Looking for a little advice please.
What do you think is the difference between what you're doing now and what you envision as "into technical writing"?
On Mon, May 21, 2012 at 6:05 PM, Mac Wheeler <email -at- macwheeler -dot- com> wrote:
> Hi folks.
>
> I'm considering making a move in to technical writing, but am wondering if my skill set fits.
>
> I spent the first 24 years of my working life in IT, started off working for the M.O.D, made a move into programming for a few years, and then in to tech support, some middle management positions and then finally senior management. So I have a very good tech background, and also a firm grounding in project management etc.
>
> About 7 years ago now I was sick of the industry, gave it all up and walked away. I've spent the last 6 years in South East Asia earning a living writing just about anything and everything, from product descriptions of adult toys to white papers and everything in between. I've been working freelance in this way as my full-time employment for the last 6 years, so I figure I have plenty of experience now.
>
> So it occurred to me that there might possibly be a synergy between my original career, and my more recent work.
>
> Do you folks think I am well positioned to make a move into technical writing?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Mac Wheeler
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